Where to pet or hold a Koala?

Old Nov 17th, 2001, 12:45 PM
  #1  
kelli
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Where to pet or hold a Koala?

I was wondering if anyone knows of a location where they allow tourists to pet or hold Koala's anywhere near Sydney, Cairns, Port Douglas, Ayers Rock, or Melborne. This has been something I have always wanted to do since I was a little girl, and it would really be a highlight of my trip. Thanks.
Kelli
 
Old Nov 17th, 2001, 01:02 PM
  #2  
kathy
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Hi Kelli,
Try the Sydney zoo (sorry, forgot its name). We did pet, but not hold, koalas.
Time for a photo, too.

 
Old Nov 17th, 2001, 01:17 PM
  #3  
Priscilla
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Queensland may be the only state in Australia where you can actually hold a koala. We did it there in 2000. We also pet koalas at the koala park west of Sydney, but could not hold them.
 
Old Nov 17th, 2001, 02:39 PM
  #4  
LizF
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There is a change away from letting people hold the koalas so you may wish to check with the particular establishment if in fact they still do allow that.
I don't think you will get koalas in Cairns, PD or Ayers Rock however you should certainly see or get to hold one at the Healesville sanctuary near Melbourne/ Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney. There is a zoo in Melbourne too so that should be another place but I would think that Healesville would be the best place - you will enjoy it there too.
 
Old Nov 17th, 2001, 02:53 PM
  #5  
pat
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Was in OZ in May and never found a place where you could hold a koala. At the Taranga Zoo in Sydney, you had to pay to even take a picture with them! At healsville, we heard they have very fragile bones, and even holding them can injure them. Plus we heard they have weak hearts. People were petting dingos at Healsville, and I liked it better than the Sydney zoo. At healsville you are more in with the animals. Plus you get a guide or two to escort you around and answer questions.
 
Old Nov 17th, 2001, 03:19 PM
  #6  
Rhonda
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When in Sydney visit the Koala Park in West Pennant Hills. See: www.koalapark.com
We took a Japanese student there and it was the highlight of her trip.
 
Old Nov 18th, 2001, 10:06 AM
  #7  
Shirley
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We were in Australia in August. Queensland is the only place you can hold a koala. We went to the Koala Park Santuary in Brisbane. For a fee, you can hold a Koala and get your picture taken. They put the money towards the animals in the park. There are strict regulations on how long a koala can be held and how often. I think they treat the animals well. You can also buy kangaroo food and go in a penned area to feed the kangaroos. The kangaroos are tame and soooo cute. It is an experience of a lifetime and well worth the trip.
 
Old Nov 18th, 2001, 08:09 PM
  #8  
Shirley
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Kelli,

The name of the sanctuary is "The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary" in Brisbane (I made a mistake in my last post). If you go obtain directions there - we had a difficult time finding it. It appeared to be in a residental area. They have a website - sorry can't remember the URL.
 
Old Nov 18th, 2001, 08:22 PM
  #9  
Alan
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Yes, Kelli, you can pet/hold a koala in Sydney... I have photographs of my daughters doing it to prove it. Try Featherdale Wildlife Park, at Doonside, about 45 minutes by train from Sydney, on the western line. The park itself is about another fifteen minutes walk from Doonside Station, or you can get a fast train (interurban,destination "Lithgow" or "Mt Victoria")to Blacktown and then hop a taxi for the last three kilometres. At this park you will also see Tasmanian devils and dingoes (but you can't cuddle them!) The park also has a "friendship farm" (as do most of these places) where you can pat kangaroos and wallabies.
Get there early in the morning, for most days the park is swarming with busloads of tourists on guided tours by around 11 a.m.
The Koala Park at West Pennant Hills is not as easy to get to by public transport, but it is also very pleasant, and, as far as I know, you will get a close look at a koala there, at feeding and "explanation" time, but I am not sure if you can actually hold onto one. I seem to remember patting one that was held by the guide.
You may decide that another highlight of your trip will be a walk through a national park with hundreds of kangaroos all around you, in the wild. This can be had by going to Glenbrook, in the Lower Blue Mountains (that same interurban train I mentioned above, about one hour from Sydney), and then getting a taxi to Euroka Clearing. It's quite a long taxi ride.... about 10 km from "civilisation"..... but it's a real Australian paradise, especially if you go early before there are too many people around. These are wild animals and won't let you touch them... but you can get to within a couple of feet. Happy travelling!
 
Old Nov 20th, 2001, 06:26 PM
  #10  
Daisy
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There is an Aussie-themed tourist attraction called "Australian Woolshed" which has sites in both Brisbane and Cairns. I think in the Cairns one you can hold a koala and have your photo taken, but they do charge a fee. You certainly can do this in Brisbane. They only do it at particular times of the day, however, so the koalas are rested in between.
 
Old Nov 20th, 2001, 07:00 PM
  #11  
LizF
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Stop breaking the rules Suzanne of Aussie Assist! PLEASE NOTE KELLI THAT SHE IS A TRAVEL AGENT AND WANTS YOUR MONEY - SHE IS NOT GIVING YOU HELPFUL INFORMATION SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET EXPOSURE.
FODORS PLEASE REMOVE THIS PERSON!
 

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